February 18, 2015 Grazing Lease Royalties Alberta’s Grazing Lease Framework Background, Proposed Changes, Rational & Implementation

Page 2 Background – Rental Rates 3-zone rental rate system implemented in 1960 Based on distance to livestock markets and outdated understanding of forage quality

Page 3 Background – Rental Rates Rental rates have been determined using the following formula based on the grazing capacity of the land, the average weight gain of cattle on grass, and the average sale price per pound: Rent per AUM = (300lb. wt. gain/AU/yr) x (average lvstk. $/lb) x (zonal %) 12 months Included a percent that varied by zone – designed to take 5 to 10% of the total revenue derived from grazing on the lease

Page 4 Background – Rental Rates 1994 – grazing rental rates for leases, licences and permits in Alberta were frozen at: o Zone A (Southern) - $2.79/AUM o Zone B (Central) - $2.32/AUM o Zone C (Northern) - $1.39/AUM

Page 5 Background – Assignment Fees Established at the same time as rental rates Designed to capture 50% of the capitalized value of a grazing lease Fees originally calculated using a formula: {BPC+(BPC*CPC)+Constant+(BPC*LVC)}*0.5 Where: o BCP – Base Period Consideration o LVC – Land Value Change o CPC – Cattle Price Change (varied by Zone – A1, A2, B, C)

Page 6 Background – Assignment Fees In 1994 assignment fees were frozen along with rental rates at: o Zone A1 - $48.53/AUM o Zone A2 - $99.80/AUM o Zone B - $48.53/AUM o Zone C - $3.84/AUM

Page 7 Background – Assignment Fees In 2003 assignment fees were incorporated into the Public Lands Act at their current fixed rates along with a minimum assignment fee of $100: o Zone A1 - $50.00/AUM o Zone A2 - $100.00/AUM o Zone B - $50.00/AUM o Zone C - $5.00/AUM

Page 8 Review and Proposal Development Late 2013 ESRD made the decision to review the grazing lease rental rate and assignment system with the intent to implement a new framework A working group was established with representatives from: o Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association o Alberta Beef Producers o Western Stock Growers o Northern Alberta Grazing Association The committee provided input on the creation of a new framework for grazing rental rates and assignment fees

Page 9 Proposed Grazing Zones Two zone grazing rental rate structure with a boundary based on the transition to the boreal region of the province – an area that incurs higher capital costs on grazing leases The two zones would have different minimum rental rates to reflect these differences in capital costs: o Zone 1 - $2.30/AUM o Zone 2 - $1.30/AUM

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Page 11 Proposed Formula Market-based administrative formula: o Similar to lumber stumpage, deciduous timber, OSB, pulp and, to some extent, to conventional oil and gas Minimums when cattle prices are low and no net income is projected: o Zone 1 Minimum - $2.30 o Zone 2 Minimum - $1.30 When beef prices rise to the point where the industry can earn a profit, 10% of the projected net income from the lease is added to the base as variable rent – this percentage increases as returns to the leaseholder improve

Page 12 Market-Based Administrative Formula “Input Value”: Market Price & Transportation Cost “Residual Income” before “Return to Capital” less “Input Value” “Output Value”: Market Price & Transportation Cost Grazing Lease Activities “Output Value” less operating and labor costs (2005 cost survey) Rent is a Portion of “Residual Income”

Page 13 Rent Based On Yearling Markets ComponentDetails 1Revenue on sale of the yearling The product of: ­ 2 year average of the prior September Central Alberta yearling price for 800 to 900 lb. steers ­ Expected yearling weight in September (net of transportation weight loss) 2(less) Yearling cost The product of: ­ Prior April Central Alberta yearling price 600 to 700 lb. steers (based on long term relationship) ­ Assumed yearling weight on arriving at the lease – 650 lb. (net of transportation weight loss) 3(less) Transportation cost Cost of trucking the yearling to and from the lease (inflated annually) 4(less) Cost while on the grazing lease Provincial average costs based on the 2005 survey (next slide) Add costs of mortality, vet, sales and minimum rent Costs in place for 10 years (inflated annually) 5(equals) “Calculated Net Earnings”

Page 14 The 2005 Survey – Cost Categories ItemDirectIndirect Capital Costs (20-Year cumulative investment ) Fence building /rebuilding Range improvement Building/corral construction Road construction Fire protection Dugout development Watering system Depreciation/amortization Equipment building/corral Annual Operating Costs Property taxes Direct labor Supplemental feed costs Road maintenance Building/corral maintenance Fence maintenance Range maintenance Fire protection Multiple use costs Person years (including farmer /rancher time) Repair and maintenance of buildings, corrals, equipment Fuel costs Utilities costs Insurance costs Interest costs (excluding farmland and residences)

Page 15 Regional Cost Comparisons (Individual & Association Leases) Region Unit Capital Costs ($/AUM/Yr) Unit Operating Costs ($/AUM/Yr) Total AUMs Total # of Grazing Leases NE ,43941 NW ,68540 SE , SW , North ,12481 South , All Regions ,476361

Page 16 Projected Rental Rates 1 (Ignoring The Effect Of Phasing In The New Rates) Year of Rental Rate 2 Year Rolling Avg. Prior Sept. Beef Price Zone 1 Rent (851,933 AUMs) Zone 2 Rent (442,582 AUMs) Total Paid in $ million (1,294,515 AUMs) 2013 $1.33 $2.48 $1.58 $ $1.41 $3.25 $2.35 $ $1.77 $6.82 $5.98 $ $2.15 $10.43 $9.63 $ $2.03 $8.19 $7.39 $ $1.75 $5.96 $5.11 $ $1.58 $4.36 $3.51 $ $1.38 $3.34 $2.44 $ $1.18 $2.33 $1.43 $ $1.05 $2.30 $1.30 $ Apart from the “2 Year Rolling Average Prior September Beef Prices” for 2013, 2014 and 2015, these values are hypothetical and intended only to illustrate a possible range in rents expected under the formula ignoring the phase in provisions.

Page 17 Phased Implementation Grazing lease rental rate changes will be phased in over a five year period ( ) Rental rates will be calculated as the base rate plus an annually increasing percentage of the premium beyond the base rate If there is a crossover in rental rates during the phased implementation rental rates will default to the full rates In the following example, a crossover in rental rates occurs in 2019

Page 18 Zone 1 Projected Phased Rental Rates 1 Year of Rental Rate 2 Year Rolling Avg. Prior Sept. Beef Price Variable Rent (Total Rent Less Minimum) Phased Variable Rent (% Shown x Full Variable Rent) Actual Zone 1 Total Rent (Including Phase In) Total Zone 1 Rent in $ million (851,933 AUM) 2013$1.33 $0.18n/a 2014$1.41 $0.95n/a 2015$1.77 $4.52n/a 2016$2.15 $8.1320% $1.63 $3.93$ $2.03 $5.8940% $2.36 $4.66$ $1.75 $3.6660% $2.20 $4.50$ $1.58 $ % 100% $1.65 $2.06 $3.95 $4.36 $3.36 $ $1.38 $ % $1.04 $3.34$ $1.18 $ % $0.03 $2.33$ $1.05 $ -100% $ - $2.30$ Again, apart from the “2 Year Rolling Average Prior September Beef Prices” for 2013, 2014 and 2015, these values are hypothetical and intended only to illustrate a possible range in rents expected under the formula. The application of the phased variable rent would be eliminated when the current year’s full variable rent is less than the prior year’s partial or phased premium – in this example that occurs in 2019.

Page 19 Zone 2 Projected Phased Rental Rates 1 Year of Rental Rate 2 Year Rolling Avg. Prior Sept. Beef Price Variable Rent (Total Rent Less Minimum) Phased Variable Rent (% Shown x Full Variable Rent) Actual Zone 2 Total Rent (Including Phase In) Total Zone 2 Rent in $ million (442,582 AUM) 2013$1.33 $0.28n/a 2014$1.41 $1.05n/a 2015$1.77 $4.68n/a 2016$2.15 $8.3320% $1.67 $2.97 $ $2.03 $6.0940% $2.44 $3.74 $ $1.75 $3.8160% $2.29 $3.59 $ $1.58 $ % 100% $1.77 $2.21 $3.07 $3.51 $1.36 $ $1.38 $ % $1.14 $2.44 $ $1.18 $ % $0.13 $1.43 $ $1.05 $ -100% $ - $1.30 $ Again, apart from the “2 Year Rolling Average Prior September Beef Prices” for 2013, 2014 and 2015, these values are hypothetical and intended only to illustrate a possible range in rents expected under the formula. The application of the phased variable rent would be eliminated when the current year’s full variable rent is less than the prior year’s partial or phased premium – in this example that occurs in 2019.

Page 20 Projected Phased Rental Rates Crossover

Page 21 Rental Rates 20 Year Comparison

Page 22 Assignment Fees Assignment fees will be a flat rate throughout the province that reflects the cost of administration Not based on a per AUM fee

Page 23 Range Sustainability Fund Range Sustainability Fund contributions would be 40% of the rental rate and would apply to minimum rents as well as any increased rents The department would use the fund to partner with groups such as: Cows and Fish, Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association, Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association, Western Stockgrowers, Alberta Native Plant Council, Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative, etc. Funding recommendations would come from an industry advisory committee

Page 24 Range Sustainability Fund Dollars would be used to fund rangeland sustainability initiatives including: o Stewardship enhancement o Education and awareness o Ecosystem goods and services research o Climate change adaptation o Invasive species o Impacts and mitigation of recreational use o Projects aimed to gain a better understanding of the current pressures on rangelands

Page 25 Formula Review A review of the system will be undertaken in 5 years to ensure that industry is comfortable with the new formula and zones Government agrees to resurvey costs periodically (every 10 years) to ensure that formula is reasonable and based on current costs

Page 26 QUESTIONS Market Based Rents for Grazing Leases

Page 27 APPENDIX – SUMMARY INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED CALCULATION OF RENTS AND ON ASSIGNMENT FEES Market Based Rents for Grazing Leases

Page 28 Have comparable methodology to other resource sectors Support the maintenance of native grasslands and recognize the interconnections between public and private grasslands Recognize the contributions of good management and private capital to the system Be fair to both leaseholders and government Be defendable to economic threats Promote and encourage good stewardship Remove existing barriers to succession or entry into the industry that result from the current rental rate formula or assignment fee schedule Be justifiable - to the Alberta public, other provinces and other resource sectors –Must also be justifiable to grazing lease holders – with rental rates applied fairly across the province based on geographical cost differences List of Objectives – Developed with Stakeholder Committee

Page 29 Proposed Rental Rate Formula Formula is: Yearling cattle market value Less Additional input costs Less Lease operating costs Times A predetermined % Plus The minimum rent Equals Grazing lease rental rate

Page 30 Current Rental RatesProposed Rental Rates  Rental rate revenue has remained ~$2.9M since the formula has been frozen.  Rental rate revenue would, on average, be maintained or increased.  Minimum rental rate revenue would be ~$2.5M when cattle prices are depressed and rental rates are at their minimums  Rental rate formula not aligned with other provincial royalty systems.  Proposed rental rate formula aligned with timber stumpage, deciduous timber, OSB and pulp, conventional oil and gas and oil sands royalties.  Rental rate formula calculated using: o Weight gain of cattle. o Average price of cattle. o Zone percentages (based on grazing zones).  Rental rate formula calculated using: o Market value of cattle. o Input, investment and operating costs of disposition holder (Grazing Lease Cost Study).  Three grazing zones with separate rates and zonal royalties: o Zone A = $2.79/AUM (rent); 10% (royalty) o Zone B = $2.32/AUM (rent); 8 1/3 % (royalty) o Zone C = $1.39/AUM (rent); 5% (royalty)  Originally designed to account for longer distance to market faced by northern producers and to encourage settlement of northern Alberta.  Different charges per AUM in the grazing zones.  Zonal royalties are fixed for each grazing zone.  Elimination of three grazing zones and replacement with a two zone system that captures minimum rental rate of $2.30/AUM in Zone 1 and $1.30/AUM in Zone 2 with incremental royalties increasing as profits increase: o ↑ cattle prices = ↑ royalties o ↓ cattle prices = ↓ royalties (to $2.30 or $1.30/AUM)  Distance to market no longer applicable.  Incremental royalties are responsive to market conditions and equal across the Province.  Rental rates have been frozen since  Lacks transparency (both formula and frozen fees).  Not based on relevant cost structures incurred by leaseholder.  Unresponsive to market conditions (frozen fees).  Proposed rental rate formula applies a two zone formula that would be calculated each year.  Transparent and defendable.  Based on relevant cost structures incurred by leaseholders (cost study).  Responsive to market conditions. Grazing Lease Rents – Summary of Changes

Page 31 Assignment Fees – Summary of Changes Current Assignment FeesProposed Assignment Fees  Assignment fees were designed to recover 50% of the capitalized value of a disposition resulting from such factors as grazing rights and rental rates.  Proposed assignment fees will cover the administrative costs of registering the assignment.  Assignment fee charged based on carrying capacity of land: o $ /AUM  Administrative cost not based on carrying capacity.  These fees were originally calculated using a formula approach: o {BPC + (BPC*CPC) + Constant + (BPC*LVC)}*0.5 o BCP – Base Period Consideration o CPC – Cattle Price Change o LVC – Land Value Considers: o Percentage change in cattle prices. o Percentage change in grazing land values in four zones. o Base period consideration.  Fee that reflects the actual administrative cost of registering the assignment.  Assignment fees calculated using the “Formula Approach” were frozen in 1994: o Zone A1 = $48.53/AUM o Zone A2 = $99.80/AUM o Zone B = $48.53/AUM o Zone C = $3.84/AUM  Elimination of assignment fee zones.  In 2003, assignment fees for “Arms-Length Transfers” incorporated into Public Lands Act at the following fixed rates: o Zone A1 = $50/AUM o Zone A2 = $100/AUM o Zone B = $50/AUM o Zone C = $5/AUM  Five other assignment types were established in 2003 under the Act with a flat $100 assignment fee charge.  Elimination of assignment fee zones and incorporation of assignment fees into the Public Lands Administration Regulation  Elimination of different categories of assignments.  Assignment fees are not transparent: o Based on outdated and cumbersome “Formula Approach”. o Not consistent across province o Dependent on a variety of transfer types. o Not reflective of the cost of assigning the disposition.  Assignment fees would be transparent: o Not based on a cumbersome formula. o Applied consistently across the province. o Not differentiated by transfer types. o Based on administrative costs to register the assignment.